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By Robert Balajadia
Guam’s Mt. Rushmore of Basketball gathered at Pika’s Cafe Thursday evening for the official signing to commemorate a life long list of Guam’s basketball achievements and just talk basketball.
The soothing acoustic sounds of Jack Larimer set the tone for the evening as Guam’s best ballers shared a brief stories about what it means to be considered one of the greatest basketball players to ever come out of Guam.
Though the amount of video footage of these legends are lacking, the stories and memories fans have of these men can vouch for just how special each of them were.
Tony “The Helicopter” Susuico
Susuico was the first to reminisce the signing sharing his first time ever shooting a basketball in a hoop made completely of tire wire and a deflated volleyball. Susuico has come a long way and praised his parents and teammates for allowing him to succeed in the sport.
Tony was almost the first person brought up in every conversation of who the best on Guam was.
Susuico told tales of how he managed to sneak in basketball training in his younger days providing the fans in attendance a brief history of how much basketball has changed over the years growing into one of Guam’s most popular sports now-a-days.
Susuico also shared his college experience in being a pioneer for Guam playing basketball at a colegate level.
Joe Taitano
While being recognized for basketball, Taitano’s coaching accolades and accomplishments proved to follow him wherever he goes possibly being considered Guam’s greatest athlete.
Tiatano shared the tales of his training, and Susuico, who was Taitano’s teammate for many years, even chimed in saying that Taitano would run to and from practice.
Taitano related his discovery of basketball much like how Magellan discovered Guam, not knowing where he was. Taitano also credited his wife Christine for enduring the amount of hours he put into training for the sport and allowing it to take him to the height of today.
Joey “The Pretzel” Gogue
Often considered the “Michael Jordan of Guam,” Gogue thanked God before all else.
Gogue was a scoring marvel and he reflected thanking everyone from his wife to his siblings for allowing him achieve success in the sport.
Gogue also gave thanks to all his coaches through out the years that allowed him to do what he did. Gogue was inspired by so many professional athletes that he found himself wanting to play like the greats, not only professionals but the greats of Guam as well.
Little did he know that he would forever surmount a place amongst the greatest basketball players of Guam history.
Chris Fernandez
Fernandez was youngest of the group and last of the four to speak. He was known as the quiet one and let his game speak for himself.
He reflected on those before him praising them, and though he felt he was the least deserving to be honored, he was grateful for the praise and hopes that it inspires the youth to one day be amongst Guam’s best basketball players.
Fernandez thanked his whole family from his parents, siblings, and coach Tony Thompson who helped mold him into the player he eventually became.
PHOTO GALLERY:


GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
FAMILIAR FOES TO MEET FOR HOOPS CROWN

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs